Here are some great images, above and below, capturing the sights of the Diocese of Lansing’s Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday, April 17, as the priests of the Diocese of Lansing gathered at a packed Saint Mary Cathedral in Lansing to concelebrate Holy Mass with Bishop Earl Boyea who encouraged his brethren to embrace the challenge and reality of being “other Christs” in the world.
“Brothers and sons, by the very grace of our ordination we have become other Christs,” said Bishop Boyea reflecting upon the Holy Gospel whereby Jesus told those present in the synagogue in Nazareth that the words of Isaiah’s messianic prophecy were being fulfilled in their very presence (Luke 4:16-2).
“We too are able to proclaim that this text is fulfilled as the Word is uttered from our mouths. Imagine that! Just our announcing the Good News fulfills what had been expected for so long.”
The annual Chrism Mass traditionally occurs upon the morning of Holy Thursday. The concelebration of Holy Mass by the priests of the diocese is an expression of their communion with their bishop. During the sacred liturgy, the diocesan priests also renew their priestly promises.
“We, my brothers, know only too well that when we are one with Jesus, filled with the Spirit, and abiding in the Father’s will, our words too work the very wonders they state,” added Bishop Boyea.
“We also know that too often such a meshing of our lives with the Blessed Trinity is weak or hindered. Then it is that we get tripped up by our very words. And frankly, the latter situation is probably more common than the former.”
“If we know this about our sinful selves, then we also know that we must invoke the Holy Spirit upon ourselves weekly, daily, hourly and we must also let whatever speech is to come forth from us challenge us first and deeply before it can ever be fulfilled in the hearing of our communities.”
Today's Chrism Mass also saw Bishop Boyea consecrate the three holy oils that will be used in parishes across the Diocese of Lansing in the year ahead.
The oil of chrism is used to anoint the newly baptized, to seal the candidates for confirmation, and to anoint the hands of presbyters and the heads of bishops at their ordination, as well as in the rites of anointing pertaining to the dedication of churches and altars. The oil of catechumens is used in the preparation of the catechumens for their baptism. Meanwhile, the oil of infirmorum is used to bring comfort and support to the sick in their infirmity.
“I know many of us have labored in the vineyard for many, many years and some here are mere novices in the priesthood. Nonetheless, every day of our ministry is the time. There can be no other time than now,” said Bishop Boyea as he drew his homily to a conclusion.
“Do we feel what moved Jesus? Do we sense his own drive to accomplish the Father’s work? Or are we mired in lost times, days gone by, or days that will never end, or days that will never come? Today is the day, the only day we have. It is the time given to us in the Holy Spirit.”
“The eyes and ears of all are looking at us, turning to us, my brothers and sons. For God has planted in all of them a deep desire for the fulfillment of his will and they yearn to have that fulfillment made clear and present in our lives and our words. Let us grab that scroll, find that passage, and witness to the very anointing we have received.”
• Photographs by Michael Back
